Heir Of The Fallen Flame

Chapter 4: The Cursed One

The walk to Madam Natalie’s quarters was quiet. Eyes followed them from every angle.

The corridors, to the balconies above, from the shadows between pillars, every trainee in the academy seemed to have heard. Whispers trailed behind Kael but he ignored them.

At least he tried to. He was used to people whispering as he walked by, calling him a flameless fool but never had he had anyone look at him with fear instead of disdain.

His bare feet moved against the polished floors, his jaw tight, his mind louder than the murmurs around him.

‘They will stop at nothing to kill you.’

Zen had said that to his face a moment ago and Matalie had asked that they take this somewhere private and not to the hearing of the entire academy.

The last thing she wanted was to frighten the trainees anymore than they already were.

They reached a set of wide doors at the far end of a quiet wing and Natalie pushed them open.

Kael stepped inside and stopped.

The room was nothing like he expected. It was a huge space, drawing in whites.

Polished white of marble halls. The walls were clearly curved from stone and marble. Light filtered in from above through narrow openings. At the center of the room lay a pool.

Its surface reflected the ceiling like a mirror.

Stone benches circled the pool and shelves lined the far walls, filled with scrolls, herbs, and small glass vials that shimmered faintly.

Kael stepped further in, his eyes scanning everything.

“This is…” he started, then stopped.

Different.

From her grey eyes, he knew she was a witch but never had he seen a witch who lived white space. They seem to hate it. She had to be a white witch, a very rare kind.

Natalie walked past him. “Sit.”

Kael walked to one of the stone benches and sat.

Lyra remained standing. Zen did not enter fully. He stayed near the doorway, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on Kael like getting a closer could endangered his life.

Natalie stood by the edge of the pool, her reflection staring back at her.

Kael’s eyes moved around as they all stood in silence.

“You said you were going to tell me what happened..”

“You died.” Natalie said simply.

Kael’s head snapped up. “What?”

“You fell from a cliff high enough to crush bone and break life,” Natalie said, turning slightly toward him, her grey eyes completely white. “Your body hit the ground. Your breath stopped. Your heart ceased. That is death.”

Kael’s throat tightened. He remembered the fall, the way his heart had slammed hard at his chest and maybe even his bones cracking but…he couldn't seem to remember anything else.

Except that deep voice in his head.

‘You are mine.’

His hands clenched slightly. “Then how am I here?” he asked, quieter now.

Natalie’s gaze softened, but not with pity.

“With help,” she said. “Something answered you.”

Kael frowned. “I didn’t call anything.”

“No,” Zen said from the doorway, his voice cutting in. “It called you.”

Kael looked at him. Zen stepped further into the room now, his presence filling the space.

“The Unclaimed Flame does not awaken without reason,” Zen continued. “It chooses. And when it does, it does not ask.”

Kael’s confusion deepened. “You keep saying that. What is it?”

Natalie glanced at Zen, then back at Kael.

“It is power,” she said slowly. “Ancient power. Older than the council. Older than the throne. It is not magic as you know it. It is something… deeper. Darker even.”

Kael shook his head slightly. “That doesn’t explain anything.”

“It is not meant to,” Zen replied.

Lyra shot him a look. “He deserves to know.”

Zen’s jaw tightened. “He deserves to live. And the more he knows, the less likely that becomes.”

Natalie raised a hand gently, silencing them both. Then she looked at Kael again.

“The Unclaimed Flame is feared because it does not belong to this world in the way other magic does,” she said. “It cannot be controlled in the usual sense. It does not bend. It does not obey. It consumes, it protects, it destroys.”

Kael listened, his breathing steady but his mind racing.

“And it is hunted,” she continued, “because those who have wielded it before have brought ruin. Kingdoms have fallen. Bloodlines have ended. Entire cities have burned under its awakening.”

The room felt colder. Kael swallowed.

“And now it’s in me?” he asked.

Natalie did not hesitate. “Yes.”

Kael looked down at his hands, at the faint markings that still traced his skin.

“This doesn’t make sense,” he said. “I don’t have magic. I never did.”

“That is not entirely true,” Zen said.

Kael looked up sharply.

Zen stepped closer now, stopping a few feet away.

“The Flame is not learned. It is inherited. It is passed through blood.”

Kael’s brows furrowed. “Blood?”

Natalie nodded. “From parent to child.”

“That’s not possible,” he said. “I don’t have parents.”

Lyra’s expression softened slightly. “You didn't fall from the sky, child. Everyone has parents,” she said quietly.

“I don’t,” Kael snapped, the edge returning to his voice. “I don’t remember them. I don’t remember where I came from. I’ve been at the Mage’s academy for as long as I can remember. That’s it.”

Zen studied him carefully. “That alone is suspicious,” he said.

Kael’s jaw tightened. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” Zen replied, “someone placed you there. Your bloodline should have ended centuries ago and somehow you've lived this long to the notice of none. Until now.”

Kael leaned back slightly, his thoughts spiraling.

“So you’re saying…” he started, then stopped.

“That this… thing inside me,” he continued, gesturing vaguely, “comes from someone I don’t even know?”

“Yes,” Natalie said simply.

Kael let out a breath, running a hand through his hair.

“This makes no sense.”

“It does,” Zen said. “And if our realm and the one beyond saw your awakening, we’re about to see an eruption of the thousand year peace we've enjoyed .”

Kael looked up again, frustration rising. How did he even get here? All he wanted was for him to be able to save Alia and now he's, what? Cursed?

Zen’s gaze hardened. “The council will not ignore it. Pelson will not ignore it. And there are others, far worse, who will come when they hear.”

Lyra stepped forward. “Then we protect him.”

Zen turned to her sharply. “We do not even know if he can be controlled.”

“He can learn.”

“And if he cannot?” Zen pressed. “If that power takes over again? If he loses himself the next time it awakens?”

Lyra didn’t hesitate. “Then we help him before that happens.”

Zen let out a quiet, humorless breath.

“You speak as if this is simple,” he said. “It is not. This boy is a threat just by existing within these walls.”

Kael’s expression darkened. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”

“I am aware,” Zen replied. “That does not change the reality.”

Lyra stepped between them slightly.

“He saved himself,” she said. “And he didn’t attack anyone after the mist.”

“He nearly killed Ronan,” Zen said. “Ypu told me that!”

Lyra held his gaze. “They attacked him first!” she said, “They attacked first and he had every reason to want those bastards dead!”

Kael looked between them, tension building in his chest.

“So what?” he said. “You’re just going to throw me out?”

“Yes.” Zen said.

“Lord Zen!” Lyra called.

Kael let out a short, bitter laugh. “I thought as much.”

Lyra turned to face Natalie, “Say something.”

Natalie exhaled, “I do not think he can be helped. Keeping him here is the same as inviting the devil to come dine with us. He must leave.”

“What if he can be controlled?” Lyra asked, desperate.

Natalie shrugs, “Perhaps. His destiny is a blank page. I'm afraid he writes what becomes of him.”

“I will not be risking it. He leaves. Now.” Zen ordered.

A distant sound echoed through the academy, a deep horn echoed through the entire academy once, twice and then thrice.

Zen’s head turned sharply toward the door. Lyra’s expression tightened.

Kael frowned. “What is that?”

Zen didn’t look at him. “The council,” he said.

Another horn echoed, closer this time.

“They’re here already?” Lyra asked under her breath.

Zen’s eyes darkened. “I told you they would come.”

Kael stood slowly. “So they came for me.” he clenched his fists, he still had unfinished business with Ronan. “Good,” he said, eyes shimmering.

Lyra looked at him. “What are you doing?”

Kael’s eyes hardened. “I’m not running again.”

Zen stepped forward immediately. “You are not stepping outside this room until I say so.”

Kael met his gaze. “They’re coming for me anyway.”

“I will speak to them but not in your defence. If they must take you away then so be it,” Zen said firmly.

The horns sounded again.

The academy walls seemed to hold their breath. Natalie turned toward the door, her expression unreadable.

“They will not leave without him,” she said.

Zen’s voice was low, his gaze moving over to Kael, “Pray the heavens are on your side child. If they take you, you will never see the light of day.”